3 Kids Injured In ATV Crash

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Three kids ages 2, 4 and 7, were riding this ATV when it was hit Tuesday morning by a pick-up truck near Hayti.

Three kids ages 2, 4 and 7, were riding this ATV when it was hit Tuesday morning by a pick-up truck near Hayti.

By Brian Allen

Story Created: Jul 22, 2008 at 9:13 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 23, 2008 at 8:10 AM CDT

It involves this mangled ATV:

Three kids...ages 2, 4 and 7, were riding it Tuesday morning when it was hit by a pick-up truck and sent rolling down the road.
The collision happened on 446th Avenue, 1 mile north of State Highway 28...just southwest of Hayti.

According to the Hamlin County Sheriff's Office, one of the kids was taken to Prairie Lake Hospital in Watertown; the other two were brought to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls.

To see the image of this tangled ATV and to know three young kids were on board is heartbreaking: tonight, investigators are able to piece together how this accident happened.

It's 11:15 Tuesday morning:
3 kids, ages 2, 4 and 7 ride an ATV down this gravel driveway and onto 446th Avenue.
Heading north on the road, a 15 year old driving a pick-up truck; nearby a pasture with horses.

 "The driver of the pick-up was distracted by the horses and the next thing you know he struck the ATV." After impact, the ATV rolled several times, coming to rest about 100 feet away, and the three kids on board were hurt pretty bad. "My heart goes out to them right now for the pain they're going through at this time."

Hamlin County Sheriff Dan Mack knows the family and is investigating the tragedy. He says he doesn't want to pile on to the family's grief but adds he doesn't understand why three young kids were on an ATV with no adult supervision. "Make sure you know where your kids are and that they aren't on an ATV unattended."

One of the kids was taken to a Watertown hospital, the other two were airlifted to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls.

We just checked with Hamlin County before news time and neither the names nor the conditions on the injured kids are being released.

No charges have been filed in connection with this incident.


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Thursday, Jul 24 at 2:48 PM wow wrote ...

i cnt believe the parents i hope to god they cn live with themselves no one to blame the damage is done but we all knw this could of been avoided especially for the little ones. may god bless them all and this be a wake up cll to all parents who let ur children roam free no matter where they are at city, farm always watch ur children close. not pointing fingers but we all knw what i sounds like.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 1:06 PM Please Remember wrote ...

ANYONE can have perfect HINDSIGHT. JUDGEMENT is best handled by the only One who can read our hearts. If you are fortunate enough to have all of your children tucked safely into bed tonight, take a moment to give them an extra hug and thank God that YOU aren't subject to being judged while you're dealing with the most horrific days of your life. To all of the people directly involved, may God be with you and carry you through the days, weeks, months and years to come!

Thursday, Jul 24 at 12:20 PM Anonymous wrote ...

My God be with the family at this difficult time and may memories and faith get them through this difficult tragedy. I also prayer for the driver of the pickup and his family. In regards to SD Raised-this IS South Dakota, all of which is a rural community. It IS necessary to be aware of your surroundings and one cannot deny taking their eyes off the road ahead of them watching for deer or cattle, or in this case horses that appeared to be awfully close to the road.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 9:29 AM katrina wrote ...

SD Raised, why do you insist on blaming the pickup driver? The kids shouldn't have been on the road, period. Does blaming everyone you can point a finger at bring Laurel back? No. I am positive that her family and the drivers family are feeling this loss more than YOU could ever imagine.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 9:21 AM oh dear.... wrote ...

Quit being so snotty SD RAISED. Who looks at driveways when their driving. If it were me I would be focused on the horses also. The last thing anyone expects is to see some kids pull out of a driveway. Normally its adults pulling out who look before entering the road. This was an accident that the girl/ nor the boy is to blame...so stop being so snotty and think of ways you can prevent this from happening again.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 8:35 AM TO JUST ME wrote ...

I'm so glad that you've never made a poor decision! It must be so nice being perfect and sitting on your high horse judging all those around you. You'll have to keep letting the rest of us know when we make bad decisions.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 8:20 AM SD raised wrote ...

The 15 year old had poor judgement also!! why are we forgetting that...all people are talking about is the kids...what about the person who was too busy looking at horses to see the kids!!! isn't that something!!!

Thursday, Jul 24 at 3:44 AM Just me wrote ...

Well at least they won't make the same mistake with the 7 year old girl. "ME" To think that they thought this was ok, only tells me that they have very poor judjment. Not mistakes.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 5:44 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I am very sorry for your loss my prayers go out to you.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 3:48 PM ME wrote ...

This is really a sad situation,My heart goes out to both families...These children were too young to be on thier own, I am sure these parents will never make the same mistake again...god bless you

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 2:47 PM mitchell parent wrote ...

I hardly let my 8 year old ride her bike around the block by herself. I can't even imagine letting her drive an ATV by herself. So Sad

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 1:50 PM concerned.... wrote ...

Let the family grieve, the kids on the atv did nothing wrong, grant it they were young but they were hit by someone. My heart goes out to all involved....

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 1:06 PM sad... wrote ...

Although, I understand the parents were not the smartest for allowing these children to be driving this. However, sitting on here badmouthing them is not going to make the situation any better. They lost a child. I think that is punishment enough.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 9:50 AM madddog wrote ...

My prayers to the two kids and the family God be with you.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 9:34 AM Anonymous wrote ...

You say loss. Did one not make it? We are praying this is not true. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with theses children and their families.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 9:17 AM Anonymous wrote ...

that is horrible. hope all the children fully recover. my prayers go out to the family.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 8:11 AM Anonymous wrote ...

This should have never happened. Stupid to have those young kids out on that for wheeler.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 7:45 AM Anonymous2 wrote ...

I'm so sorry also. You have wonderful children, and are a wonderful family. I am praying for their recovery also. To the young man driving the truck, I am thinking about you, and want you to know people care.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 7:39 AM Raz wrote ...

"accidents happen", yes but this one was caused by the parents allowing someone totally too young to be responsible, we pray for their recovery and for the parents.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 7:38 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I just read from Anonymous above at 2:15, sorry for your loss. Does that mean one of the children passed away. This is very scary my nieces drove at ATV when they were little in the country, now they are in their teens, but this is so sad!!! My nieces where never allowed to go on to any roads, except for their own drive way, and someone always had to watch them. My heart goes out to the parents, just to hear the noise of the ATV being hit, and have to go running to your children, so so sad!!

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 2:15 AM Anonymous wrote ...

my heart and prayers go out to you. we are sorry for your loss. You are such great people and our small community is praying for the recovery of your other two children.

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